Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-03
rns nAraIre or Ems. DHUss.


DKDW0g WISH enc - &kA an ohohbh M AAA0
Last Letters.
HEnKnrKB, N. Y, Feb. 28.-After the
services last night Mrs. Druse remained
up until about 11.30 p. M. Deputy
Sheriff BARLEY Marien with Mr.. and Mrs.
Waterman, the death-watch, induced her
to lie down and she had about an hours
quiet sleep. She awakened with Q start
and upon arising began TO write letters as
calmly as she had at any time during her
incarceration. They were as follows:
HERKIMER, Feb. %, l887.-Io Sheriff Cook:
KIND SIR.--You having given me even
more privileges than could have expected
under the circumstances desire TO express
my sincere thanks and gratitude for your
kindness and your family's. For this no
doubt you will pass many pleasant hour
besides have a clear conscience that you
have been kind to me when l am gone.
Goodbye. Mrs. RoxALANA DRUsH.
Mrs. Druse gave the following order to
Sheriff Cook:
HERKJMER, Feb 28, 18S7--Kitd Sir: II II
Is to br my sad fats 70 die SO soon, l, there
fore, venture to make this request io you
that as soon as life has gone from my body
that you will place ID In charge OF him who
has been my friend to the last, the Rev. g..
w. Powell, and that he alone, as minister
OF the gospel, be present at my death and
offieiate at my funeral, IL am permitted to
have Christian burial. Please grant me
this request In your own handwriting.
MRS. r. DRUsE.
The last letter written by the con-
demned woman was the following to the
chief deputy in charge of the prisoners I:
HERKIMER. Feb. 2s Mr.. BARLEY Marion:
Except thankes for kindness of an ,lnfor-
tunate woman whose death Is await 1g no
doubt at break OF day.
MRs. RoxALANA DRUsE.
After writing Mrs. Drnse lay down
again and fell into a dose. Sho was
attacked with hysteria in q violent form
and it required considerable effort upon
the part of her watchers to arouse
and calm her. During the night size ate
one of the heartiest meals that sho had
partaken since she was prisoner. She
had about two hours of rest after II. IN. ,
but did not sleep souudly at any time.
One of her first visitors this moruin was
Superintendent Irving Terry of the non.
dago penitentiary, who brought bouquet
of flowers and q farewell from hen
daughter Mary, who is life prisoner.
This visit had most exciting effect upon
Mrs. Druse. Her death watch, Mrs.
Waterman, who had maintained herself
admirably throughout, wasaffected to tears
and for some minutes all were affected in
the same manner.
The Rev. DR.. Powell visited Mrs. Druse
about 8 a. M, and did all in his power to
calm her and prepare her for the awful
moment. She ate no breakfast, but par.
took of stimulating medicine prepared by
1 the jail physician, DIR. Guy. Her counsel,
| II. Dwight Luce, made his parting visit
with her about 10 O'Clock this morning
and this again upset her temporarily, but
She soon rallied and appeared as firm and
composed as any one. Mrs. Cook, wife
of the sheriff, lady Of peculiar good
| Judgment and common sense, succeeded
in distracting her attention from tn,
thought of her terrible end and, by hei
direction, no one was permitted to excits
her again.
After the terrible blizzard of Sunday,
the morning opened bright, with the
mercury about 10 degrees above zero
Every road leading into the town wal
dotted with sleighs crowded with fur
1 coated men and not few women. Capt
John Budlong and the 31st separate com
pany national guard "a muskets cam,
down from Mohawk at 8 q M, and were
| qusrtered in the courthouse. Detail
were posted about the Jail to reinforce
the deputies who were on duty since
q. m. aboutthe exterior Of the Jail.
The crowd in the village increased OF
the arrival of every train and, in spite O
the extreme cold, men, women ant
children stood about the streets surround
ing the jail, satisfied to look at the Off.
cials as they passed in and out of tn,
building.
| HANGED AT NOON.
HERKnmR, N. Y, Feb. 1s.-Precisely
at 10 O'Clock the trap was sprung anC
Mrs. Druse was hanged.
Mrs. Druse made the following affidavit
in compliance with the request from hel
daughter that she should not leave bio
on her name I, Roxalans Druse, in my
last moments, do hereby solemnly swear
and affirm that my daughter, Mary Druse
who is now confined in the Onondsgs
penitentiary, had nothing whatever to dt
with the killing of her father, William
Druse, or with the disposition of his
body. This statement l have repeated,
made and always adhered to at the in
quest and since my confinement. M!
daughter, Mary Druse, is absolutely limo
cent and was in no way connected will
her fathers William Drusel death.